Joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Ning Rongrong Insisted on Coming with Me?

Ning Fengzhi nodded thoughtfully, his tone gentle.

"Godwind Academy is indeed quite good, with remarkable accomplishments in nurturing elemental Soul Masters. However, Godwind Academy is located in Windward Territory in the northern part of the Balak Kingdom, on the northwestern plateau. It is ravaged by wind and sand year-round, and the conditions are quite harsh."

Gu Feng remained calm as he spoke.

"The path of cultivation is difficult by nature. Enduring a little hardship is nothing."

Chen Xin, who stood behind Ning Fengzhi, suddenly spoke.

"Kid, who taught you that trick you used against the Demon Wolf, draining the air away?"

Gu Feng's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged.

"In reply to Sword Douluo, this junior figured out that technique on his own."

"Commoners have no sect secret arts, so this junior could only keep trying to control the wind around him during cultivation. By chance, I discovered that as long as I drew away the air around an opponent's nose and mouth, I could cause them to suffocate and lose their balance briefly."

Chen Xin nodded repeatedly.

"With no famous teacher to guide you, you were able to comprehend such a self-created technique for controlling airflow through your own exploration alone. Your comprehension is among the best of your generation."

Ning Rongrong listened from the side, pouting as she reached out and tugged at Chen Xin's sleeve.

"Grandpa Sword, why are you only praising him? I'm amazing too, all right? I'm already level twenty-six!"

Chen Xin lovingly rubbed Ning Rongrong's little head.

"You girl, if you put even half the effort you usually spend teasing people into cultivation, you would have reached level twenty-eight or twenty-nine by now—perhaps even level thirty."

Chen Xin was right. Although Ning Rongrong was a support-type Soul Master, her Innate Soul Power was a full level nine. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources, she could absolutely have reached that level.

Ning Rongrong huffed, turning her face away as she secretly sized up Gu Feng from the corner of her eye.

This guy looked about the same age as her. How had he earned such lavish praise even from Grandpa Sword, who was usually so stern and reserved?

Ning Fengzhi looked at Gu Feng, his desire to recruit him growing even stronger.

His background was clean, his character resolute, his talent exceptional, and his comprehension exceedingly high.

If he could bring such a genius into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and carefully nurture him for ten years, the sect would surely gain another top-tier powerhouse in the future.

"Young friend Gu Feng."

Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, his tone sincere.

"Godwind Academy may be good, but it is still only an academy. Its resource allocation is subject to many limitations, and even its strongest members are merely Soul Douluo."

"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also possesses top-tier Mimicry Cultivation Grounds, along with every kind of heavenly treasure and cultivation insight."

"I wonder if you would be interested in joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? If you are willing, Ning can guarantee that you will receive the resources afforded to core disciples within the sect."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong looked at Ning Fengzhi in surprise.

"Dad! You're inviting him into the sect directly? And giving him core disciple treatment?"

After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's inner sect core treatment was generally reserved for direct descendants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or monstrously talented disciples.

She had never expected her father to actively recruit Gu Feng into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Chen Xin stood to one side and spoke calmly.

"Gu Feng, with your talent and comprehension, if you come to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you will certainly achieve great things in the future."

Gu Feng stood where he was, rapidly weighing his options.

At this stage, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthy and powerful beyond measure, with two Titled Douluo standing behind it.

Spirit Hall would not make its move for many years yet. During that time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would undoubtedly be an extremely solid backer.

He had neither connections nor vast wealth. Relying solely on his status as a commoner to make his way across the continent would indeed bring plenty of trouble.

Leaning against a great tree made for good shade. Joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not only spare him much trouble, but also grant him access to the sect's finest resources.

With that in mind, Gu Feng stepped forward half a pace and cupped his fists in salute.

"Thank you, Sect Master Ning, for thinking highly of me. This junior is willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"However, this junior has one small request. I hope the Sect Master will not place too many restrictions on my daily cultivation."

Ning Fengzhi laughed heartily and nodded at once.

"Good! At such a young age, you have already reached level thirty-five Soul Power. You must have a very clear plan for your own cultivation path."

"The sect will never forcibly restrict your freedom. On the contrary, if you encounter anything you cannot understand in cultivation, you may come to me or Uncle Sword at any time."

Gu Feng straightened up and replied earnestly.

"Thank you, Sect Master, for granting my request."

Ning Rongrong, who stood nearby, immediately beamed. She hopped over to Gu Feng in two steps and patted his shoulder.

"Haha! You've got good taste!"

"From now on, in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, this young lady has your back. Let's see who dares bully you!"

She was more than half a head shorter than Gu Feng. Tilting up her fair little face, she spoke smugly.

Gu Feng replied at once.

"Then thank you, Miss Ning."

The moment Ning Rongrong heard that form of address, her brows furrowed, and her lips jutted out in a pout.

"Gu Feng! You've already agreed to join the sect, yet you're still calling me Miss Ning. It sounds so distant!"

"Since you saved this young lady just now, you can call me Rongrong from now on!"

Seeing her impatience, Gu Feng replied.

"Okay, Rongrong."

Ning Fengzhi watched their interaction, a warm smile filling his face.

"Now that you have joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, there is no need to stand on ceremony in private. You may call me Uncle Ning from now on."

Gu Feng nodded in agreement.

"Uncle Ning."

Ning Fengzhi drew in his sleeves and suggested, "It is getting late. Uncle Sword and I can take you back to the sect headquarters, and we can prepare your core disciple identity token and provisions while we are at it."

However, Gu Feng shook his head and directly refused the suggestion.

"Uncle Ning, this junior does not plan to go straight to the sect for the time being."

Ning Fengzhi was somewhat puzzled.

"Oh? Do you have other plans?"

Gu Feng looked composed as he explained his plan.

"This junior wishes to travel alone to Heaven Dou City first, then participate in real combat matches at the Great Soul Arena within the city."

"Simply cultivating behind closed doors to raise Soul Power is not solid enough. The journey itself is also cultivation, and tempering one's combat reactions through life-and-death battles is part of this junior's cultivation plan as well."

At the mention of the Great Soul Arena, Ning Rongrong's ears perked up at once.

She was confined within the sect every day and had long been full of curiosity about those thrilling and dangerous places of battle beyond its walls.

"The Great Soul Arena? I want to go too!"

Ning Rongrong grabbed Ning Fengzhi's sleeve and shook it vigorously.

"Dad, Grandpa Sword, I'm not going back to the sect either! I want to follow Gu Feng to Heaven Dou City and gain experience!"

Gu Feng turned his head, looked her up and down twice, and bluntly poured cold water over her excitement.

"The Great Soul Arena is not some childish game within the sect. It is filled with Soul Masters fighting for their lives. Injuries and bloodshed are commonplace."

"And traveling with me will be very grueling. If you cannot keep up with the pace, I will not stop to indulge a young lady's temper."

Provoked, Ning Rongrong stomped her feet, planted her hands on her hips, and angrily shot back.

"Don't look down on me!"

"This young lady is also a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster, not some delicate ornament!"

"If there is hardship, then so be it. Who's afraid of whom?"

She stepped closer, nearly pressing herself against Gu Feng's chest.

A pleasant, faint floral fragrance wafted from the girl's body, and her warm breath brushed directly against Gu Feng's collar as she spoke.

Gu Feng lowered his head to look at the pretty face so close to his own. His expression did not change in the slightest; he merely shifted slightly aside, avoiding such overly intimate contact.

Compared with a beauty, his life was more important. Besides, he had only just met Ning Rongrong. Maybe she was deliberately trying to prank him and make a fool of him.

After all, Ning Rongrong's nickname was the Little Witch!